Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/362

 of powder had been placed in the sewers connected by wires, to which, at the proper time, the electric spark was to be communicated. After a short interrogatory, in which Gilbain plainly avowed his participation in the insurrection, he was led out and shot, together with eighteen other National Guards taken with arms in their hands. A few days later his wife, who had been left at liberty, was discovered throwing petroleum on a house in the neighborhood, and was immediately led a prisoner to Versailles.

The successive occupation of the barricades De Buci, Saint-André-des-Arts, and the Rue Christine, against which it was necessary to employ cannon, led the troops as far as the Boulevard Saint Michel. The Place Saint-Sulpice was taken at the same time; and here we may mention a curious incident. The officers of the Marine having installed themselves in the telegraphic bureau of the Mairie, sent a despatch to the Hotel de Ville, leading the Federals to believe that they were still in possession of the quarter. Having asked what they should do if the Versailles troops continued to advance, they received the following laconic answer:

"Faites sauter la boîte."

One of the delegates of the arrondissement was instantly shot.

The streets in the neighborhood of the Seine had also their part in the combat. Early in the morning the Federals had fortified themselves in the passage Sainte-Marie, and had occupied the neighboring houses. Towards noon, two regiments of the line, supported by three pieces of artillery, appeared before their defences. These pieces, placed in position, kept up during the afternoon a vigorous cannonade, directed against the passage Sainte-Marie, which, added to the fire of the infantry, rendered towards evening the position untenable for the insurgents. At the close of the 23d of May the army was mistress of all